Dennis Lehane at the BPL

Last night I went to the Boston Public Library for an installment of their author series in the Rabb Hall.  The featured speaker was Dennis Lehane one of my favorite authors.  It was his last stop on his book tour to promote "Live By Night"

Lehane wrote "Mystic River", a book that put into words all the things I ever knew to be true about living in Charlestown; how I feel about being in/from Boston; how I love and treasure Boston.  I've recommended or given this book to others who are of The City.

So of course, I had to go back and read everything he had ever written.  It was good, but nothing touched me like "Mystic River".  Then when I was in Dubai in August of 2003, one of the books I brought was "Shutter Island".  Wow!

"Live By Night" takes up another Coughlin brother's story a few years after "The Given Day", which was an amazing book.  I read the first 136 pages between having it signed at 7:30 last night to when I finally forced myself to put it down and o to sleep.  I've intentionally left it in my 3rd floor bedroom so I could get stuff done today.  But tomorrow, I'll read all day!

Lehane's presentation last night had everyone chuckling.  it comes through so clearly how he loves Boston and of course that endears him to me all the more.  On a funny note, he loves Ybor City, a historic neighborhood  in Tampa.  And of course, that's a place I spent a lot of time when I was visiting Tom (formerly known as the Favorite Naval Consort) .

Yes, I know, I am talking while they took the picture.  Oh well.

Happy Birthday, Taco!

Do you read The Sandgram?  You should!  It's written by my pal, "Taco" Bell.  and today's is Taco's birthday.  Well, all his friends can't be with him.....but we can show we're thinking of him.

How far will I go?  Well, look at this pic.

That's right, I went over to the People's Republic of Cambridge!

You know lots of things are relative. i remember having a discussion with some people about the word "Yankee".  To a non-Ameican, a Yankee is an American.  To a Southerner, it's someone north of the Mason-Dixon.  To Northerners it's a New Englander.  To a New Englander, it's a DownEasterner  And to that Maine-iac.....it's a guy who lives down a dirt road with an outhouse.

So plenty of people think Massachusetts is a crazy liberal place, but other people who live here want you to know it's Boston.  But let me tell you from right here dead center, five blocks from the Bunker Hill Monument.......Cambridge makes us all shake our heads.

But for Taco's birthday.....besides, it was a good stretch of the leg!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I wish you and yours the very best today!

Allen West recount results only partial

Holy crap!  I was an appointed election worker in Massachusetts and this is ridiculous.  I have been involved with several recounts and it's not that hard to do.  Those officials are obligated to answer to the public.

Wolverines!

****Update after the movie****
It was totally effing awesome!!!!!!!  Go see it.  Better than the original.

Tonight I have passes for a sneak preview of "Red Dawn".  Are you jealous?

No, It Wasn't The Revolver In The Library...

It was a Milkdud in the movie theater!

There I was in the director's hall of the Loew's theater watching "SkyFall".  Thinking Daniel Craig is nearly as sexy as Sean Connery when.........a Milkdud took out my crown.

So depressing.  I had perfect teeth before cancer.  All kinds of people write in my myeloma email group about the problems chemo causes with their teeth.  I've broken four teeth and now lost a crown.

Well at least it's something to think about besides General Petraeus.

I Believe....

.....that if John McCain had been elected instead of Barack Obama #Benghazi would not be on everyone's lips.

I believe that you wouldn't know the names Christopher Stevens and Sean Smith unless you were a policy wonk or political geek like me.

I believe that you wouldn't know that names Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods because they would be quietly working their mission for the CIA.

Because if John McCain were president, those men would be alive.

Now many will say "That's ridiculous Maggie!  You can't know."

But I do.  And if you are honest, you do too.

That's what really riles me.  It didn't have to happen.